Chrysanthemum plant named &#39;Starstruck Pink&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new variety of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Starstruck Pink,’ having a domed capitulum of medium sized deep pink single type flowers and a round shape.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/543,818, filed on Feb. 10, 2004.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum morifolium.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

The new Chrysanthemum variety denomination is ‘Starstruck Pink.’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum botanically known as Chrysanthemum morifolium, andreferred to by the variety name ‘Starstruck Pink.’

‘Starstruck Pink,’ identified as 31116-0, originated from a cross madein a controlled breeding program in West Sussex, United Kingdom. Thefemale parent of the new Chrysanthemum variety is the variety known as‘Chicane.’ The male parent of the new Chrysanthemum variety is anundistributed, unpatented seedling identified as ‘98.027-67.’ The newChrysanthemum variety ‘Starstruck Pink’ has been asexually reproduced byvegetative cuttings in Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom and thedistinguishing characteristics are retained throughout successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘Starstruck Pink’ is a garden type of Chrysanthemum plant variety havinga domed-round canopy of pink single type flowers.

Comparison with Female Parent

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Starstruck Pink’ are dissimilarto the parent variety ‘Chicane’ in plant habit and growth rate. Inside-by-side comparisons in Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom,under commercial practice, plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety‘Starstruck Pink’ differed from plants of the parent variety ‘Chicane’in the following characteristics.

1. The new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Starstruck Pink’ produces deep pinksingle type flowers whereas the parent variety ‘Chicane’ produces lightpink single type flowers.

2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Starstruck Pink’ havesmaller and shorter inflorescence than plants of the parent variety‘Chicane.’

3. The new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Starstruck Pink’ is less vigorous thanthe parent variety ‘Chicane.’

Comparison with Male Parent

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Starstruck Pink’ are dissimilarto the parent variety ‘98.027-67’ in plant habit and growth rate. Inside-by-side comparisons in Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom,under commercial practice, plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety‘Starstruck Pink’ differed from plants of the parent variety ‘98.027-67’in the following characteristics.

1. The new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Starstruck Pink’ produces deep pinksingle type flowers whereas the parent variety ‘98.027-67’ produceswhite single type flowers.

2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Starstruck Pink’ havesmaller and shorter inflorescence than plants of the parent variety‘98.027-67.’

3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Starstruck Pink’ have anatural season response of about 9 weeks whereas plants of the parentvariety ‘98.027-67’ have a natural season response time of near 10weeks.

Comparison with the Variety ‘Dove’

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Starstruck Pink’ are similar tothe unpatented variety ‘Dove’ in plant habit and growth rate. However,in side-by-side comparisons in Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom,under commercial practice, plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety‘Starstruck Pink’ differed from plants of the variety ‘Dove’ in thefollowing characteristics:

1. The new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Starstruck Pink’ produces deep pink,single type flowers whereas the variety ‘Dove’ produces smaller deeppink single type flowers

2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Starstruck Pink’ have a moreuniform flowering response than plants of the variety ‘Dove.’

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION

Typical specimens of the plant and flowers for the new Chrysanthemumvariety ‘Starstruck Pink’ are shown in the accompanying digitalphotograph. The colors shown are as true as possible within the usuallimits of this kind of illustration. FIG. 1 is a whole plant view of thenew Chrysanthemum variety ‘Starstruck Pink’ grown in a pot. The plantshown in the illustration is 63 days from the commencement of plantingoutdoors in mid-June.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following description of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘StarstruckPink’ is of plants grown outside, natural season, in Chichester, WestSussex, United Kingdom in the month of June. The variety has not beenobserved under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype mayvary significantly with variations in the environment such astemperature, length of day and light intensity, without any variance ingenotype. The commercial classification of the new variety is a gardenChrysanthemum.

Plants of the new variety have been grown successfully under temperatureconditions averaging about 50° F. at night and about 60° F. to 75° F.during the day under natural light conditions. The plants were grownoutdoors in mid-June in 4 liter pots using loamless compost. No growthretardants were used. To produce a commercial product the plants may bepinched once with the center bud removed. The typical container size forcommercial growth is 4 liters (8″). It has been observed that the shelflife of the new variety is about 25 days with a response time of about 9weeks natural season. The new variety is suitable for growth in atemperature range of 50° F. to 75° F.

The new variety may be produced as a pot plant. The followingdescription is with respect to a plant produced as a garden pot plant.In the description of this new Chrysanthemum variety, color values havebeen taken from The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart(R.H.S.C.C.).

Plant

-   Plant type: Pot.-   Habit: Domed-Round.-   Height: 45 cm-55 cm.-   Width: 40 cm-55 cm.-   Stem:    -   -   Length.—6 cm-9 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.5 cm-0.8 cm.        -   Texture.—Rough.        -   Color.—near 137A.-   Branching characteristics: Free branching/Spreading.-   Lateral branches:    -   -   Length.—14 cm-18 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.4 cm-0.6 cm.        -   Texture: Slightly pubescent.-   Number of breaks from pinch.—7-12.-   Response time: 9 weeks natural season.-   Vigor: Medium.-   Shelf life: 25 days.-   Disease (susceptibility/resistance observed): None observed to date.-   Pest (susceptibility/resistance observed): None observed to date.-   Drought and temperature (susceptibility/resistance observed): None    observed to date.-   Growth retardant type and treatment: No treatment necessary The    plants were grown for 9 weeks in natural season conditions.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Vegetative Propagation via Stem Cuttings.        -   Time to rooting.—12 days with soil temperatures of 70° F.        -   Rooting habit.—Fine and Fibrous.

Foliage

-   Number of leaves per lateral branch: 8-12.-   Compound or single: Single.-   Arrangement of leaves: Alternate.-   Shape of leaf: Typically 5 lobed Ovate.-   Size of leaf: Width: 2.5 cm-3.5 cm Length: 3.5 cm-5 cm.-   Leaf apex: Acute.-   Base: Obtuse.-   Attachment: Petioled.-   Aspect: Slightly undulating.-   Margin: Palmately lobed.-   Surface Characteristics: Top: Smooth Slightly pubescent Bottom:    Slightly pubescent.-   Petiole: Color: near 138B Length: 0.7 cm-1.1 cm Diameter: 0.3 cm-0.5    cm.-   Venation: Net. Prominent mid vein at underside Color: upper side:    near 138C underside: near 138C.-   Color: Mature Leaf, upper side: near 137B under side: near 138A    Young Leaf, upper side: near 137B; under side: near 138A.

Flower

-   Flower appearance: Matte.-   Flower type: Single.-   Flower form: Flat.-   Flower shape: Round.-   Flowering habit: Cyme.-   Number of blossoms per branch: 9-15.-   Typical and observed flowering season: August and September natural    season.-   Inflorescence form: Corymibiform.-   Depth of fully expanded blossoms: 0.7 cm-0.8 cm.-   Diameter of fully expanded blossoms: 3.5 cm-5.0 cm.-   Phyllaries:    -   -   Number.—23-25.        -   Color.—near 138A.        -   Length.—0.2 cm-0.5 cm.        -   Width.—0.1 cm-0.3 cm.        -   Texture/appearance.—Slightly shiny and pubescent.-   Peduncle: Peduncle length is shortest at the terminal flower and    progressively longer down the stem; longest length is on average 14    cm, shortest length is on average 10 cm.    -   -   Length.—9 cm-15 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.5 cm-0.7 cm.        -   Color.—near 138B.        -   Surface.—Slightly Pubescent.        -   Habit.—Very slightly curving.        -   Strength.—Medium.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—terminal: 7 cm-9 cm; lateral: 11 cm-13 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.3 cm-0.5 cm.        -   Color.—near 137A.        -   Surface.—Slightly pubescent.        -   Habit.—Slightly curving.        -   Strength.—Medium/strong.-   Ray florets:    -   -   Form/shape.—Straight.        -   Texture/appearance.—Matte.        -   Number per flower.—30-35.        -   Length.—1 cm-2 cm; Width: 0.2 cm-0.4 cm.        -   Apex.—Round.        -   Base.—Tubular.        -   Margin.—Entire.-   Disc florets:    -   -   Form/shape.—Cylindrical.        -   Texture/appearance.—Matte.        -   Number per flower.—130-150.        -   Length.—0.2 cm-0.4 cm; Width: <0.1 cm-0.1 cm.        -   Diameter of disc.—0.6 cm-0.9 cm.-   Fragrance: Slight.-   Flower bud (at onset of color):    -   -   Length.—0.6 cm-0.8 cm.        -   Diameter: 0.6 cm-0.8 cm.        -   Form/shape.—Ball shaped.-   General flower color:    -   -   1. Ray florets, upper side.—Immature: near 55A Mature: near            55C Older/Fading: near 55D.        -   2. Ray florets, under side.—Immature: near 55A Mature: near            55C Older/Fading: near 55D.        -   3. Disc florets.—Immature: near 14B Mature: near 14C            Older/Fading: near 14C.        -   4. Bud: near 139C. Flower progression with age; Flowers fade            uniformly with age The lastingness of bloom is about 25            days.

Reproductive Organs

-   Gynoecium present on Ray and Disc florets. Ray florets per    individual flower:    -   -   Pistil number.—20-25 observed.        -   Stigma color.—near 144D.        -   Stigma shape.—Forked.        -   Style color.—near 144D.        -   Style length.—0.1 cm-0.2 cm.-   Disc florets per individual flower:    -   -   Pistil number.—125-140.        -   Stigma color.—near 144D.        -   Stigma shape.—Forked.        -   Style color.—near 144D.        -   Style length.—0.1 cm-0.2 cm. Androecium present on Disc            florets only.-   Disc florets per individual flower:    -   -   Stamen number.—70-90 observed.        -   Anther shape.—Clubbed.        -   Anther color.—near 14C.        -   Pollen color.—near 12A.        -   Pollen quantity.—Medium.-   Fruit and seeds: None observed.

1. A new and distinct variety of Chrysanthemum plant, substantially asdescribed and illustrated herein.